Leucadendron plant named &#39;Reverse Polarity&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Leucadendron  species cultivar named ‘REVERSE POLARITY’ is disclosed, characterized by green mature foliage with a yellow central variegation and thin red margin. Floral bracts are variegated yellow-Green with Greyed-Purple 187B as a central streak. The new cultivar is a  Leucadendron , typically suited for ornamental garden use, or as a cut flower.

Latin name of the genus and species: Leucadendron species.

Variety denomination: ‘REVERSE POLARITY’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new variety originated as a chance discover by the inventor, LuenMiller. The variety was discovered as a naturally occurring branchmutation on a single plant of Leucadendron species ‘Jester’, unpatented.The new variety was discovered during June of 2011 at a commercialnursery in Royal Oaks, Calif. in a commercial planting of the parentvariety.

After selecting and isolating the new cultivar, asexual reproduction ofthe new cultivar ‘REVERSE POLARITY’ was first performed at a commercialnursery in Royal Oaks, Calif. in July of 2013. Semi-softwood vegetativeterminal cuttings were used for propagation. The inventor continuedconfidential, controlled evaluation and propagation of ‘REVERSEPOLARITY’, to establish a stable clone. ‘REVERSE POLARITY’ has sinceproduced three generations and has shown that the unique features ofthis cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type. Typical asexualreproduction of the new variety is by softwood vegetative cuttings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘REVERSE POLARITY’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘REVERSE POLARITY.’ Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘REVERSE POLARITY’ as a newand distinct Leucadendron cultivar:

-   -   1. Mature foliage on mature branches is yellow-green with golden        variegation and very thin red margins.    -   2. The distinctive variegation pattern of the foliage is more        intense in the floral bracts, which have a large orange-red        center streak.    -   3. Suitability as a cut flower.

PARENTAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘REVERSE POLARITY’ are similar to the parentin most horticultural characteristics. However, ‘REVERSE POLARITY’differs in the following:

-   -   1. Variegation of the new variety is a central yellow streak,        variegation of the parent variety is along the margin.    -   2. Floral bract variegation of the new variety is a darker        color.    -   3. Plants of the new variety are much faster growing than plants        of ‘Jester’.    -   4. Plants of the new variety are more vigorous and disease        resistant than plants of ‘Jester’.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘REVERSE POLARITY’ can be compared to thecommercial variety Leucadendron ‘Safari’, unpatented. Plants of ‘REVERSEPOLARITY’ are similar to plants of ‘Safari’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however, plants of ‘REVERSE POLARITY’ differ in thefollowing:

-   -   1. Foliage of the new variety is variegated, foliage of ‘Safari’        is solid green.    -   2. Floral bract color of the new variety is brighter, more        intense than floral bract color of ‘Safari’.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘REVERSE POLARITY’ can be compared toLeucadendron ‘Rising Sun’, unpatented. The new variety is similar insome horticultural characteristics. However, the plants of ‘REVERSEPOLARITY’ differ in the following:

-   -   1. Foliage of ‘Rising Sun’ is solid green, the new variety has        variegated foliage.    -   2. Flowering bract color of the new variety is variegated,        flower bract color of ‘Rising Sun’ is solid.    -   3. Foliage of the new variety is larger than foliage of ‘Rising        Sun’.    -   4. Plants of the new variety produce larger stems than plants of        ‘Rising Sun’.    -   5. Plants of the new variety are more open and less dense than        plants of ‘Rising Sun’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs were taken using conventional techniquesand although colors may appear different from actual colors due to lightreflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographictechniques. Age of the plant photographed is approximately 2 years.

FIG. 1 illustrates a close up view of the stem and underside of theleaf, as well as the underside of a flower cone.

FIG. 2 illustrates a flowering cone from a top view.

FIG. 3 illustrates upper and lower leaf surfaces of foliage grown on aplant in full sun conditions, with foliage fully exposed to sunlight.The leaf on the left is the underside, the leaf on the right is theupper surface.

FIG. 4 illustrates foliage from the lower section of the plant, withvery little sun exposure. The leaf on the left is the underside, theleaf on the right is the upper surface.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to the RHSColour Chart, 2007, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used. The following observations and measurementsdescribe ‘REVERSE POLARITY’ plants grown at a commercial nursery inRoyal Oaks, Calif., under bright, unshaded conditions. Average daytemperatures were approximately 8° C. to 26° C. and the average nighttemperature was approximately 3° C. to 18° C. No artificial light,photoperiodic treatments or chemical treatments were given to theplants. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typicalplant types.

-   Botanical classification: Leucadendron species ‘REVERSE POLARITY’-   Age of the plant described: Approximately 2 years.-   Container size of the plant described: 1 gallon commercial    container.-   Propagation:    -   -   Propagation method.—Terminal cuttings, hardwood or            semi-softwood.        -   Time to develop roots suitable for transplanting.—About 6 to            8 weeks at an average temperature around 25° C.        -   Root description.—Woody, not well branched, colored near            Brown N199A and Grey-Brown 199A and 199B. Typically shallow            rooted.-   Plant:    -   -   Growth habit.—Upright shrub.        -   Age of plant described.—Approximately 2 to 3 years.        -   In a container or in the ground.—5 gallon container.        -   Height.—120 cm.        -   Plant spread.—25 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Approximately 2 years to reach 120 cm in            height.        -   Branching characteristics.—Weak to moderate branching, a            pinched plant produces 2 to 3 lateral branches on average.        -   Stem description.—Length: Approximately 17 cm before pinch.            Diameter: About 2.0 cm. Texture: Glabrous, very slightly            rough, no scales, bark or lenticels observed. Strength: Very            strong. Color: Near RHS Greyed-Red 182C.        -   Lateral branches.—Length of Primary Lateral Branches:            Average range 30 to 60 cm. Diameter of Lateral Branches:            Approximately 0.7 cm. Approximate Quantity of Lateral            Branches: 5 to 10. Branching Arrangement: Whorled. Texture:            Glabrous. Color: Lower section near Greyed-Purple 183D,            upper section near Greyed-Purple 187A.-   Foliage    -   -   Leaf.—Arrangement: Spiral. Quantity: Approximately 25 to 60,            per main branch, including sub-branches. Average Length:            5.5 cm. Average Width: Approximately 1.2 cm. Shape of blade:            Oblanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire.            Texture of top surface: Glabrous. Texture of bottom surface:            Glabrous. Pubescence: None. Aspect: Mainly flat, or with a            very slight twist. Color; full sun foliage: Young foliage            upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A, about 1 to 2 mm            center streaks near Yellow 3B. Young foliage under side:            Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A, about 1 to 2 mm center streaks            near Yellow 3B. Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS Green            138A. Thick center streaks 3B. Base often flushed Red 53B            and 53C, colors occurring individually. Thin margin near            53B. Mature foliage under side: Near RHS Green 138A. Thick            center streaks 3B. Base often slight flushed Red 53D. Thin            margin near 53B. Venation: Type: Pinnate. Venation color            upper side: Indistinguishable from foliage coloration.            Venation color under side: Indistinguishable from foliage            coloration. Petiole: No present, sessile.-   Flower:    -   -   Natural flowering season.—Year round in temperate California            conditions.        -   Begins flowering after how many years/months.—About 1 year.        -   Inflorescence type and habit.—Female only flowers. Minute            flowers occurring in gently spiraling rows on conical            spikes. Flowers tubular structure of fused petals, outwardly            facing. Flower self-cleaning, persisting approximately 8            weeks on the spike.        -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.—56 to 64, occurring            in 7 or 8 rows of 8 flowers.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: Approximately 1.8 cm. Height:            Approximately 2.5 cm.        -   Individual flowers.—Size: Diameter: Approximately 1 mm.            Length: Approximately 1.5 mm. Shape: Tubular.        -   Petals.—Petal arrangement: Fused, tubular. Size: Length:            1 mm. Width: Less than 1 mm. Margin: Entire. Apex: Rounded.            Base: Fused. Petal quantity: Indistinguishable, single,            minute structure. Texture: Glabrous.        -   Color.—Petals: When opening: Inner surface: Near RHS            Greyed-Purple N186A. Outer surface: Near RHS Greyed-Purple            N186A. Fully opened: Inner surface: Near RHS Greyed-Purple            N18&A. Outer surface: Near RHS Greyed-Purple N187A.        -   Bud.—Shape: Ovate. Length: Approximately 0.5 mm. Diameter:            Approximately 0.4 mm. Color: Near RHS Greyed-Purple N186A.        -   Fragrance.—None.        -   Involucral bracts.—Number: Average range 12 to 16. Length:            Approximately 0.7 cm. Width: Approximately 0.5 cm. Shape:            Deltate. Texture: Glabrous. Apex shape: Acute. Margin:            Entire. Color: Near RHS Greyed-Purple 183A.        -   Floral bracts.—        -   Description.—Leaf like, occurring just below inflorescence.            Quantity: Average range 8 to 10. Arrangement: Spiral.            Average Length: 6.8 to 7.5 cm. Average Width: Lower 1.7 cm,            inner 2.5 cm. Shape of blade: Oblanceolate. Apex: Acute.            Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture of top surface:            Glabrous. Texture of bottom surface: Glabrous. Pubescence:            None. Aspect: Strong upward cupping, very light undulation            or twist. Color: Upper surface: Center near RHS Yellow-Green            N144A, heavily flushed Greyed-Purple 187B. Margin near 187B.            Under surface: Center near RHS Yellow-Green N144A, heavily            flushed Greyed-Purple 187B. Margin near 187B.        -   Peduncle.—Beginning from the lowermost floral bract to the            uppermost leaf. Length: Approximately 2 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 0.4 cm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: Near Red            53A.-   Reproductive organs: Minute flowers with compressed productive    organs. Reproductive organs not visible under a dissecting    microscope.-   Other characteristics:    -   -   Seeds and fruits.—No seeds/fruits observed.        -   Disease/pest resistance.—Observed improved resistance to            foliar diseases of Leucadendron. The assumed foliar diseases            are fungal, presumably Dreschlera, Colletrichium or Elsinoe.            No other resistance nor susceptibility to normal pests and            diseases of Leucadendron has been observed.        -   Temperature tolerance.—Tolerates low temperatures to            approximately −9° C. Good high temperature tolerance,            observed to at least 40° C.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Leucadendron plantnamed ‘REVERSE POLARITY’ as herein illustrated and described.